Nancy Gingerich Supporting Family and Friends with Mental Illness
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Transcript Nancy Gingerich Supporting Family and Friends with Mental Illness
Nancy Gingerich
Supporting Family and Friends
with Mental Illness
Introduction
What is Mental Health?
Canadian Facts
Cause of Mental Illness
Onset
Depression, Anxiety, Self Harm and Suicidal Ideation
Protective Factors
Stigma
Recovery
Supporting Individuals/ Families
Resources
Interfaith Community Counselling Centre (ICCC),
located in New Hamburg (Trinity Lutheran Church)
serving the needs of individuals, couples and
families for over 25 years
a registered non-profit organization under the
direction of an elected and volunteer Board of
Directors
Involved in many communities
Mental Health refers to ongoing successful
mental activity
This includes maintaining productive daily
activities and maintaining fulfilling relationships
with others
It also includes maintaining the abilities to adapt
to change and cope with stress
Based on studies conducted by the Canadian Mental
Health Association and the Centre for Addictions and
Mental Health:
One in 5 people in Ontario will experience a
mental illness at some point in their life time
Mental illness affects people of all ages, in all
kinds of jobs and at all income and educational
levels
70% of mental health disorders have an onset
during childhood
Many contributing factors lead to the diagnoses of
a mental illness:
Genetic predisposition (Nature)
Experience and Environment (Nurture)
Societal factors: pressure to achieve, the
increased “stress and busyness of life”
The symptoms of mental illness are a result of
abnormal brain functioning
Mental illness is a brain disorder
It is rarely if ever caused by stress alone
Like physical illness, mental illness often requires
some form of treatment
The result of poor parenting
The result of poor behavior
The result of personal weakness or bad attitude
The result of a deficit in personality
The result of bad spiritual intent
The result of poverty
Some of the illnesses which commonly begin during
childhood and persist into adolescence include:
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Attachment Disorder
Illnesses that most often begin during adolescence
include:
Major Depression
Schizophrenia
Bipolar Disorder
Eating Disorders
Specific Anxiety Disorders
Panic Disorder
Social Anxiety Disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Addictions
Affects both mind and body
Caused by multiple factors, including genetics
and life experiences
Symptoms can include:
Sleeping disturbances
Eating disturbances
Feelings of sadness, loneliness, or guilt
Lowered concentration and motivation
Can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, education,
employment, etc.
What are some emotions that family members
and friends might experience when a loved
one is struggling with depression?
It is normal to feel upset when a loved one is
struggled with depression
Confused
Frustrated
Guilt
“Walking on eggshells”
Helpless
It is normal to feel upset when a loved one is
struggled with depression
Confused
Frustrated
Guilt
“Walking on eggshells”
Helpless
Reminder - Oxygen Mask
Processing your own feelings with a support person
or professional can help you cope and allow you to
continue to support your loved one(s)
Everyone feels worry at some point but anxiety is
excessive worry and unrealistic thought patterns
that interfere with daily living
12 % of adults, 2x more women than men
1 in 8 children have anxiety: increase in children
experiencing anxiety
Most common mental health disorder however
highly treatable
Does not interfere with
job/school/social life
Feel that concerns are
controllable
Specific cause
Brief periods
Usually not
accompanied by
physical symptoms
Worry
Interferes with
job/school/social life
Feels that it is out of
control
May be unsure of what
caused it
Lasts a long time
Accompanied by physical
symptoms
Very distressing
Anxiety
Self harm is direct, repetitive, and intentional injuring of body
tissue most often done without suicidal intentions
Most common form is self-cutting but can also include
burning, scratching, tearing, banging or hitting body parts,
interference of wound healing, hair-pulling or ingestion of
toxic substances or objects
Self harm is a behavior employed as a coping mechanism to
deal with underlying mental health challenges and is not a
disorder or condition itself
The motivations for self-harm vary and it may be used to
fulfill a number of different functions.
Self-harm may be used as a coping mechanism with provides
temporary relief of intense feelings such as anxiety,
depression, stress, emotional numbness or a sense of selfloathing or other mental traits such as low self-esteem or
perfectionism. …..they feel the hurt on the outside instead of
on the inside………but it is ineffective because it does not
last……..and thus becomes repetitive
Some may use self-harm as a means to punish themselves
for something they have done instead of changing their
behavior
People who self injure usually go to great lengths to hide the
behaviour. Red flags to be aware of are:
Unexplained frequent injuries, such as cuts and burns
Wearing long pants and long sleeves in warm weather
Low self esteem
Problems handling emotions
Problems with relationships
Let the person know you care
Be patient and Listen - give the person space to tell you
about how they are feeling
Be non-judgmental
Let them know there is help available to develop better ways
of coping with their intense emotions
Connect them to professional help
Loss of interest in: appearance, socializing,
relationships, work/school
Wide mood swings and extreme outbursts
Major personality change
Expressions of helplessness/hopelessness (i.e. “I
just can't take it anymore”, “it won’t matter soon”)
Expressions of worthlessness and being a burden
High risk behaviour (i.e. alcohol/drug abuse,
promiscuity)
Preoccupation with thoughts of death
Preparations for death, giving away valuables,
calling to say goodbye
Treatment of teens for psychiatric disorder
(i.e. taking certain anti-depressant medication)
Be familiar with red flags
Take all mentions of suicide seriously
Let the person know that you care
Listen; give the person space to tell you about
how they are feeling
Be non-judgmental
Don’t be afraid to ask if the person is thinking of
hurting themselves
If they have a plan DON’T Leave them alone
Offer hope that there is help available
Connect suicidal person to professional help
Shock
Denial
Trying to fix the problems
Blame
Guilt - Can be a tendency to blame yourself
Others?
Early assessment and intervention
Family relationships
Healthy life style
Community involvement
Support network
When we negatively view someone as having a
“weaker character”
Use of negative or cruel language to describe
mental illness (i.e. make jokes)
Portrayal of people with mental illness in the media
(violent, “crazy”, etc).
Lack of knowledge regarding the brain
Lack of knowledge about mental illness
The media
◦ Movies
◦ News stories that emphasize a person’s mental
illness as a factor in crime
Behaviors, such as aggression, that are attributed
to mental health disorders
Language used (“psycho”, “schizo”, etc)
Educate, educate, educate! Learning about mental
health is essential
Open up and start speaking about it, allows for
healing
Make it okay to seek help, especially for men,
encourage others
Family and social support
Non medical or Medical Supplements
Life style changes, diet and exercise
Counselling
Community involvement
Spirituality/faith
Don’t minimize feelings
Speaking in soothing tones of voice may have a
calming effect
Equip the individuals with the tools and resources
Do not enable or excuse behaviors – learn about it
Model self-help behaviors
Ask the family how you can help
Educate ourselves- challenge yourselves and others
Don’t work alone
Encourage the caregiver to take care of themselves
first, so they can help each other
Any other suggestions?
In what ways will you take the time to take care of
yourself this week (eg. taking a bath, spending
time with friends)
Interest in Support Group for those supporting
family or friends with mental illness
CMHA Grand River Branch
Individualized support (Outreach, Short-Term and LongTerm Intensive)
Mental wellness workshops and seminars
Family support services through the Family Mental Health
Network
Peer support through the Self Help Alliance
Court support and services for youth in the criminal
justice system
Contact:
Kitchener Office – 519-744-7645 or 1-866-448-1603
Mobile Crisis Team: 519-744-1813 (24 hrs)
Front Door
Crisis services through crisis phone number and Mobile
Crisis Services
For children, youth, and their families
Support and resources for parents whose child is
experiencing mental illness
Walk-in single-session counselling for youth, parents and
children
Contact:
Kitchener - Front Door (Mon -Fri 8:30-4:30)
Cambridge - Langs (Thurs 10 - to 5:30)
Interfaith Community Counselling Centre
Individualized high-quality counseling services
Parenting coaching and support
Work with clients of all age groups
Sliding-scale fees to make counseling accessible to everyone
Contact:
519-662-3092
Coxson, D., Agencies working to break the silence of suicide, New Hamburg
Independent,
July 29, 2010
Hampson, Sarah, Medical access still the key to stopping suicide, Globe and Mail,
January 9, 2011
Canadian Mental Health Association, http://www.cmhagrb.on.ca
Centre for Suicide Prevention, http://ww3.suicideinfo.ca
Waterloo Region Suicide Prevention Council
Public Health Agency of Canada
National Institute of Mental Health
Understanding Mental Health and Mental Illness www.TeenMentalHealth.org